An inspiration to women, a rising star and loving mum, Jo Cox believed in making an impact
“Mum. Proud Yorkshire Lass. Labour MP for Batley & Spen. Boat dweller. Mountain climber. Former aid worker.”
This is how the British Member of Parliament, Jo Cox described herself on Twitter.
The 41-year-old was attacked in her constituency in Northern England on Thursday afternoon. She was shot and stabbed by a man.
A campaigner for women’s rights, she embraced a large list of causes. The Yorkshire lass was nominated by the Labour Party to contest the Bately and Spen seat and she won. In her maiden speech last year she said,
I am Batley and Spen born and bred. And I could not be prouder of that. I am proud that I was made in Yorkshire and I am proud of the things we make in Yorkshire.
She graduated from University of Cambridge and worked as a political assistant. She worked with Oxfam, an international humanitarian organization as an aid worker and went on to become the head of global policy at Oxfam.
She had been very vocal about the Syrian refugees and tirelessly campaigned for the cause. She also launched the All Party Parliamentary Friends of Syria group, becoming its chair.
Her efforts towards Syrian refuges were applauded:
Melinda Gates in her tweet calls her a “brilliant champion for women and the world’s poorest.” Being hailed by political leaders as young, courageous, hard working and a rising star, she will be remembered as the Yorkshire lass; the local girl who brought the whole community together to keep a night vigil for her.
As the condolences pour in from across the world, the loss of this wonderful leader is yet to sink in. As the world takes to social media to pay their tribute, her husband chose to remember her happy and smiling:
Here are some snippets of her life as a loving mother, a young rising star, a leader, and a passionate campaigner of many causes and a woman leader and change maker.
The doting mother
Committed to her family, Jo was married to Brendan Cox and the couple has two children aged three and five. Jo’s twitter is full some interesting pictures with her husband and boys.
The champion of causes
From speaking for Syrian refugees to the children in Yemen to the Earth Hour or multiple local challenges that needed her support and attention, she was there to support each of these.
All for women
Jo was an inspirational woman leader. She was the national chair of the Labour’s women’s network. She was a strong voice that spoke in favour of women’s rights and issues like education, rape, domestic abuse, and child marriage.
Jo is no more but her voice and the work that she started is a great legacy for not only young women and girls but also for global leaders to inherit and grow. She will always be there in spirits telling us to believe in ourselves to stand up for what is good and right and to be courageous to raise our voice for issues that matter.
